Crooked River Ranch firefighters had an eventful Fourth of July after a wind-driven brush fire broke out in the 14800 block of Southwest Peninsula Drive, threatening a home and several outbuildings before being fully contained at approximately 1.2 acres.
The fire was reported at about 2:02 p.m. The first arriving engine found roughly a quarter-acre of brush burning and being pushed by winds toward a residence and sheds. Crews quickly deployed hose lines to protect structures, knocked down flames near the home, and worked across the property to extinguish the remaining fire. Six engines, one tender, and one support unit responded — a total of 17 personnel, including seven career and 10 volunteer firefighters. Mutual aid came from Redmond Fire & Rescue.
The home sustained minor damage. No injuries were reported. The fire is believed to have been caused by improper disposal of smoking materials.
Goats as Defensible Space
Fire officials credited an unusual factor for limiting the fire's spread: a herd of goats. The homeowner had recently brought goats onto the property to graze down grass and shrubs — a practice that significantly reduced available fuel before the fire started.
Crooked River Ranch Fire Chief Sean Hartley said the approach is proving to be an effective and creative wildfire prevention tool.
"It's amazing to see them work," Hartley said. "In a few days, they will take a place that's got knee-high grass down to basically nothing. It's a neat way to make defensible space work — and a safe way to do it all summer long, because people mowing with lawn mowers can have a rock strike. This is a very unique way to do defensible space."
The fire was fully contained and deactivated from public incident maps. With Jefferson County under summer burn restrictions and fire danger elevated across Central Oregon, officials urged residents to dispose of smoking materials properly — in a metal container filled with sand or water. Report wildfires by calling 9-1-1.